Rail joint



s R. DoDDs &097337 July 9,1935. I

. r n m Patentecl July 9, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v a v 2307367" g EAIL JOINT i Samue1R.Dodds, Pittsburgl; Pa. i Application April 18, 1933,` Serial No. 666399 12 Claims. rol. 238-243) V i My invention refers to'improvements in rail joint construction, adapted to provide means* for connecting the ende of rails by means oficlamp ing fishplatesor bars and tightening and holding mechan'sm therefor, without imparing ,the

standard pla'te sections by'transverse bolt 'holes of usualconstruction. I i s Generally: stated; the improvement consists :in

connecting 'the adjacent tends of two rails'by' means of a pair of fish plates or' bare having holding engagement undecrneath the rail headat opposite' sides and in wedgingengagement with the upper` tapred faces oi' the rail fianges, and tightening-and holding bolts' arranged transversely belowthei rail fianges, 'effecting inward pressure ont the lower .terminal edges of the: fish' plates, by and through a; pair of U-shaped resilient brackets; i .e u

The'invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichz e Fig. 1 is a View in: elevation showing arail joint embodying myinvention; e rFigrz is a transverse sectional View on the line II -II ofVFig.1:' 1 v .FigsB .is' a' perspective view of one 'of the fish plateengaging clamps. "z

' In the 'drawing 2.-2 are the heads of adjacent rails adapted tobe connected,` having the ,usual middle webswi and the oppositely extending flanges 4 provided with; the upper tapered `faces 5. The rail& are laid upon the usual ties 6, suitably spaced apart;jwith their ende resting equally uponfa middle tie, or onties spaced'rearwardly of thesjoint, as preferred. e e r i The fish plates or bars 'I aregenerally similar to' the usualconventional fish plates com'monly used with. the' ordinary transverse ;connecting bolts, which ordinarily extend through holes in the ;fish plates and web 3 for clamping the parts together bythe usual bolt and nut or nuts. These holes and connecting bolts therethrough ere eliminated in the present constructiom leaving the rail web and fish v plates continuously solid.

The fish plates 'lare arranged-at a slight inward inclination as to their upper portions which terminate and bear underneath theopposite sides of the rail heads in longitudinal socke'ts or grooves 8 thereingas in Fig. 2. r The grooves are just sufri- V 4 ciently deep .to ensure` positive "engagement against outward movemenmrequiring but a comparatively narrow outer rim portion 9, conformotherwise t'i thegeneral Outline of astandardral head of conventional form. i `*The fish plate 1 is of approximately standard Construction, provided with the inner lower 'con- `pressure of the clamping tacting shoulder") conforming generally to the sloping face 5 of the flange. 'The plate is then extended outwardly and downwardly as at ll 'at the same general inclination of the flange face, terminating in an outer edge IZ, onthe same general plane as that ofthe rail flange edges themselves. Thelateral'extensonll of 'the fish plate, as thue made; is pr'eerably' slightly spaced above the tapering face of the rail, fiange,'as at l3,` for'clearance beyond the Contacting bearing 10 face li), avoiding frictional contact when under mechanism, beyond the hearing face o. i e r 4 As thus constructed and arranged, the oppositely 'located fish plates are adapted tobe forced inwardly by means of the tightening effectof bolts IA 'and a nut or nuts !5, and co-operating i U-'shaped clamps or brackets !6, oneat each end 'portion of the bolt. The outer portion of the clamp 16 is provided With `the bolt hole l'l' ex 20' tending thereth'rough; the clamp projecting up wardly and terminating in an inwardly turned edge portion 18, adapted to make embracing engagement along and over the terminal l2` of the fish plate, as in Fig. 2. i

i The clamp is provided with an inward lower extension !9 and an inner'terminal upwardly extending hearing portion 20, having a clearance opening ZI for the bolt; such opening is upwardly betweenits sides; which are adapted to make abutting engagement against the opposite under sides of the rail fiange as at 22, or by the necliof the opening against the bolt !4. V

- e The outer longer leg portion of the clamp [6 is normally inclined inwardly; as indioated in Fig".

3. When the nut !5 is tightened on the bolt, it

them'upwardly againstthe under face of the rail 40 The slight inward defiection of the outer leg of the clamp ensures-continuous fiat engagement by the nut and oppositebolt head when screwd up tight, as inFig 2.

As the tightening effect'of the bolt head and nut continuesjthe lower flanges of the fishplates will be' forced inwardly at opposite sides, the faceslo riding inwardly' and upwardly over the upper faces of the flanges, and forcing the upper terminals of the fish platestightly and effectively against the opposite under. sides of the rail head and into snug binding engagement against'. the outerretaining lips 9. i i

It will be understood that the lips 9 may be continuous throughout the entire length of the rail, or for only sufiicient distance inwardly from its ends to provide for such engagement by the fish plates, as desired, the rail heads in such case remaining of their full cross sectional area intervening such end portions.

As thus constructed and applied, the rail joint is extremely strong and substantial and the application of the clamping mechansm greatly multiplies the applied force of the clamps and their holding bolts.

The Construction ,and operation of the rail joint as above described will be readily understood and appreciated by those familiar with the art. It avods the necessity of any holes in the fish plates or rails which tend to wcaken both, and maintains them, especially the rail, at maximum strength and efliciency throughout its length. There being practically no lateral bending moment perpendicular to the plane of the fish plate members, these -may be made lighter, consistent with their required strength.

The Construction and application of the rail joint members will save considerable time in laying the track as the joints and their Construction is Simpler, avoiding the necessity of any such preliminary or extra dn'lling in manufacture or in the field, especially where it becomes necessary to use ashorter section of rail.

The fish plates and their holding mechanism will of course be proportioned to the size and weight of the rails, while the clamping means are conveniently located immediately beneath the rail fianges, and between adjacent ties, with facility for adjustment longitudinally of the rails within such spaces.

I claim:

1. In a rail joint, the combination with adjacent ends of rails having retaining grooves in their heads, a pair of fish plates embracing both rail ends having upper terminals 'engaging the grooves, middle hearing portions engaging the rail fianges, oppositely disposed lower edges extending beyond the rail fianges, and a pair of resilient U-shaped clamping brackets having arms engaging the opposite edges of the fish platesand directly against the under side of the rail flanges respectively.

2. In' a rail joint, the combination with adjacent ends of rails having retaining grooves in the opposite under sides of the heads, an angle shape fish plate at each opposite side of the rail ends having a middle bearing portion engaging the rail fianges of both rails, an upwardly extending side portion engaging the head grooves of both rails and a laterally extending fiange overlapping the rail fianges of both rails, a pair of resilient U-shaped clamps having converging arms directly engagingthe edges of the fish plate flanges and the under side of each rail flange respectively, and means holding the clamps in tight engagement therewith.

3. In a rail joint, the combination with two rail ends, of a pair of angle shaped fish plates joining the rail ends and engaging the rail flanges and heads and extending laterally beyond the fianges, a resilient U -shaped clamp at each opposite side having converging arms directly engaging the laterally extending edge portions of each fish plate and the under'side of each rail !lante respectively, and a lower holding bolt extendng through the clamps immediately below the flanges having a tightening nut.

4. In a rail joint, the combination with two v railends, of a pair ofangle shaped fish plates joining the rail ends and engaging the rail flanges and heads and extending laterally beyond the fianges, a series of resilient U-shaped clamps at each opposite side in pairs provided with inner and outer arms having terminais directly engaging the laterally extending portions of the fish plate oppositely beyond the meeting point of the rails and directly against the under side of each rail fiange respectively, and lower holding bolts extending through the pairs of clamps' each having a te minal head and nut engaging the outer bracket arms of each pair.

5. In a rail joint, the combination with adjacent ends of rails having retaining grooves in their heads, a pair of fish plates embracing both rail ends having upper terminals engaging the grooves, middle bearing portions engaging the rail fianges, oppositely disposed lower edges extending beyond the rail fianges, and a pair oi resilient U-shaped clamps each having a straight outer arm engaging the lower edge oi' the fish plate and a straight inner arm directly engaging the under side o! therail fiange; the outer arm converging towards the inner arm, and a holding bolt extending through both clamps below the rail flanges having a head and nut engaging the outer armeteach pair, said fish plates being held in place solely by their engagement with said grooves andsaid clamps.

6. In combinati'on withladjacent rail ends and apair of connecting fish plates engaging the sloping rail fiange faces. and underneath the heads of the rails and having oppositely extending terminal edges projecting beyond' the rail fianges, a pair of U-shaped clampingbrackets having resilient inwardly inclined outer arms engaging the terminal edges and inner arms engaging underneath directly against the rail fianges, and a holding bolt extending through the brackets below the rail flanges having a head and nut engaging the outer arm of each pair.

7. A rail joint consisting ot rail ends and outer fish plates each having a vertically arranged portion in interlocking engagement nnderneath the heads of adjacent rail ends and a base portion engaging the flanges thereoi' and laterally extending lower edge portions, ,and tightening means therefor consisting of pairs of U-shaped brackets each having an outer resilient arm directly engaging said edge portions and an inner resilient arm engaging the under side o! the rail fianges respectively, and a holding bolt extending through and connecting the brackets byits head and nut, each engaging the outer resilient arm of each bracket.

8. A clamping bracket for a rail joint u described ccnsisting of a lower wall connecting an inner upwardly extending' bracing extension and an outer upwardly extending inwardly inclined resilient clamping extension; the inner extension being bifurcated and the outer extension having a transverse bolt opening 9. A clamping bracket for a'rail Joint as described consisting oi' a lower wall conneeting an inner upwardly extending bracing extension and an outer upwardly extending inwardly ineiined resilient clamping extension provided with an inwardly disposed terminal edge; each of said extensions having a clearance opening for a holding bolt.

10. A clamping braeket'tor a rail joint as described consisting of a lower wall connecting an inner upwardly extending-bracing extension and an outer upwardlyi extendlnstraight inwardy having upper and lower portions engaging under .neath the rail head and against the rail flange respectively and provided with laterally extending flanges extending beyond and substantially in the plane of the rail flanges, a pair of resilient` U- shaped clamping brackets each having an inner upwardly extending vertical arm engaging underneath the rail fiange connected by a horizontal extension with an-outer upwardly extending inwardly sloping longer arm having an inwardly turned terminal engaging the laterally extending flange, and a tighteningbolt' extending through the arms of each clamping bracket having a. nut adapted to exert inward bending pressure by the nut and bolt head against both outer flangeengaging arms to eflect'resilient pressure engagement against' the opposite fianges of the fish plates. i

12. In a' rail joint, thecombination with abut ting rail ends, of a pair of angle shape fish "plates having upper and lower portions engaging underneath the rail head and against the rail flange respectively and provided with laterally extending flanges extending beyond and substantially in the plane of the rail flanges, a pair of resilient U-shaped clamping brackets each having an inner upwardly extending vertical arm engaging underneath the rail flange connected by a horizontal extension with an outer upwardly extending inwardly sloping straight longer arm having an inwardly turned terminal engaging over the laterally extending flange,

and a tightening bolt extending through the arms of each clamping bracket having a nut adapted to exert inward bending pres sure by the nut and bolt head against both outer flange-engaging arms to effect inward movement and upward pressure of the inner arms and their extensions and resilient pressure engagement by the outer arms against the opposite flanges of the fish plates. i

` SAMUEL R. DODDS. 

